South Florida LeaderCorps members from AmeriCorps Breakthrough Miami, AmeriCorps School Turnaround and AmeriCorps CIS Miami partnered with the Antonio Brown Charity to host the “NFL Fun Day (Soaring into summer)” event at the NFL YET Center in Miami, Florida to promote health and literacy. NFL players Antonio Brown from the Pittsburg Steelers, Thaddeus Lewis from the Cleveland Browns, NFL coaching staff and volunteers ran drills with program attendees to promote the message of healthy minds and bodies. More than 450 youth were provided with several free books, school supplies, food, backpacks, t-shirts and haircuts.

Antonio Brown easily made the connection between a healthy mind and body and touted the importance of being a good reader and doing well in school. The youth in attendance listened with rapt attention as Thaddeus Lewis and other coaching staff provided advice on overall good health and staying on track academically over the summer.

LeaderCorps members Michelle Altemus, Dominique Clarke, Tasheka Wilson, Agnes Bien-Aime, Faye Cochran, Emma Ladson and Antonette Roberts coordinated the project. They included other national service partners from a local VISTA project as well as project sponsors: Miami Dade County Parks and Recreation, McDonalds, Muscle Milk, Coventry Healthcare and Body Armor.

Congratulations to each of the AmeriCorps programs and program directors Karla Cadet, Vernon Jacobs and Helbert Asprilla, who were all instrumental in the coordination and execution of this awesome LeaderCorps project.